Political Violence Issues in South Asia - Case Study Example

Essay, Political Science 8 November What are some important types of political violence in South Asia? South Asia is ageo-political region composed of countries with high population in the globe, but of also great diversity right from the social perspective. The countries inclusive of India, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan among others have all experienced varying forms of political violence in their history and recent decades. Some forms of violence have been contained, while others have had devastating effects to the respective countries and even across the globe. Terrorism: At the national level, intrastate violence in South Asian countries have dominated in political violence, especially during the recent age of global and economic integration. Cases of domestic terrorism due to political grievances have led to some members of the society in the respective countries experiencing fatal injuries. Looking back from the 90s to early 2005, terror attacks from explosives due to fight over resources among intrastate communities and leadership had been common. Revolution: The last decade has witnessed numerous people’s movement from different countries influenced and operating under political forces to end existing regimes that had reigned for years. Myanmar and Nepal people moved to overthrow the dictatorial military and monarchy governments, respectively for a better future form of government. Rioting and civil war: Each of the nations struggles with isolated cases of conflicts and violence. Where resources are involved, ethnic conflicts have occurred with political motivations. South Asia countries have experienced long lasting civil wars with ethnic divisions. Political motivated ethnic tension had led to rioting and civil wars in some nations like India and Sri Lanka. Insurgency and rebellion: The push for democratization in the Arab world remains the greatest threat to the running governments. Since 2005, Most Islamic states experienced various up risings in search of democracy and change in government. South Asian countries, especially Pakistan and Afghanistan reported cases of Taliban insurgency among other criminal groups, which have challenged the governments and rebelled the leadership. This created brutal interaction between the military and insurgent group members, which led to destruction of lives and property in the countries. And how does Variation in government regimes across South Asia shape the level and outcome of Violence? The countries portray a distinction in their government regimes today; some remain monarchical, under dictatorship while others are quite young in democracy. It quite evident most of them have experienced a form of dictatorship, especially under the military rule in their past. Considering the diversity in religion and ethnicity of the South Asian countries, the level and outcome of violence in each country have been influenced by different factors. A democratic country like India would experience conflicts due to unequal distribution of resources in its regions or ethnic clashes between the dominant Hindu and Muslim faithful. For monarchical government like Saudi Arabia and Myanmar violence erupts from the oppression of human rights and advocacy for democracy, which could call for riots or uprising. Countries like Pakistan claims to be democratic today, yet its leadership alternate between family members. The disappointed public citizens push for revolution but often subjected to military authority and oppression to suppress any movements. In other cases riots and civil wars emerge as a consequence of democracy or in pursuit of it. Select three groups engaged in political violence in South Asia, compare and contrast the groups on the following: The document will compare the Maoist rebel, Taliban forces and Tamil tiger rebels operating in South Asia a. How the groups frame their struggles Taliban’s: The groups remain a violent force operating in both Pakistan and Afghanistan states. However the Taliban’s from the countries operate separately from one another but known to be loosely aligned to each other, especially in their objectives. Taliban’s have been in constant conflicts with the Pakistan and Afghanistan governments, specifically along the towns near the borders. These are two nations where you have witnessed great criticism from the western powers regarding issues of mass killings, terror and its recruitment. Amidst their objectives, they frame their struggle as conflict against their governments to enable a strict Islamic state and against western influence/troops to prevent their policies. Support and defence for Islamist fanaticism is common feature in their struggles. Tamil Tiger: Founded as Liberation Tamil Tiger Eelam (LTTE), its grievances arose from the former legislative changes, which made Sinhala an official language of the state. Opposed to this, the Tamil minority people felt unequally treated under the leadership of Sinhalese government. LTTE has hence struggled against the Sri Lankan government to acquire their self independence and gain identity (Fagerlund 96). Maoist rebel: The evolution and struggle of the Maoists group has yielded different reactions in the Indian public. Though violence involved, some praise them for defending the tribal rights and pursuit for real democratic evolution. They frame their struggle against the governments, greedy corporate and political system that fails to enforce democracy for the benefit of all (both poor and rich) (Rajan, Sen and Teitelbaum 3). In their war for democracy, central to it is the equal distribution and benefit from resources across regions. b. What types of violence is involved and what are the outcomes? Taliban’s have been common perpetrator of domestic violence and engaged in international execution of terror. They have fought with the governments and western (like U.S) armies in terrorists’ crackdown after 9/11. The violence involves Taliban’s insurgency and terrorism over time. Though there have been numerous conflicts against the members in the groups, their effect to the Afghans and Pakistan communities have had devastating effects such as bombings, hundreds of fatalities and injuries, least to mention damage of property. Many civilian have lost their lives in the hands of Taliban militants (shot dead or through explosives), their attempts to overthrow the government resulted in turmoil and the residents of areas like Karachi and violent zones have to live in fear. LTTE has a lengthy history of political violence in act of rebellion against the Sri Lankan government and its troops. Due to the created linguistic and ethnic tension, Tamil’s formed their rebel militia, which has since acted to counter government’s efforts to establish peace to demand a separatist state for the ethnic Tamils. It’s notoriously known for suicide bomber assassinations (killed former Indian PM and Sri Lankan President) and more than 1000 soldiers since the 1990s (“The Tamil” 1). The political motivations had led to hundreds of Tamils and Sinhalese dead, injured and some displaced. Maoist’s fighters are involved in guerrilla warfare across India and are highly based in poorly developed regions of central and eastern Indian. They are not only armed rebels that have resulted to assassinations of civilians, but have challenged the police and India’s military. According to Rajan, Sen and Teitelbaum (2) “the insurgency has resulted in 2,212 violent incidents in 2010 causing 1,175 casualties (713 civilian, 285 security force and 171 guerilla), a 63% increase since 2008.” They fight to regain control over resources, such as agricultural land, but also cause intimidation to their victims. They operate and hide from forestry and jungle areas. c. How does variation in regimes affect the level and outcome of violence? Violence and political conflicts can be well traced from the earlier politics of the Pakistan and Afghanistan from as early as 1950s. Focusing on Pakistan, where the British and Islamic politics have history, various assassinations of prime ministers and military officers indicate the intensity of political violence rooted in the community. The government regimes in Pakistan have always alternated between the military dictatorships and democratically elected leaders. For example, the former regime under President Pervez Musharaf through military dictatorship government took power after coup d’état in 1999. His military dictatorial leadership helped improve the economy, but it was also a time marked by numerous Taliban insurgencies and conflicts. In regimes where suppression is high, rebellion tends to increase and upon climax war and terror result. The Sri Lankan independence since 1948 marked the beginning of the tension in the former British ruled community. When new leadership came in after the colony, the Tamil people who felt more at ease with the British rule felt disproportionately treated. The new regime introduced policies, which elevated the Sinhalese majority over the Tamil minority within several years. It facilitated disgruntlement among the Tamil people, who felt their identity overshadowed in their own country. Language was the discriminatory tool, which led to recruitment and funding of Tamil fighters against the oppressive government. As a result those caught out in conflicts entailed both communities and government in the post colonial leadership. Maoist’s rebellion and disagreement with the government arose from the split of the CPI party in India back in the late 1960s into the CPI (M) and CPI (M-L). Disagreements arose after the CPI (M) won the elections in the state government and tried to suppress the Maoists revolution. Effectively, the peasant rebellion in Naxarbali area began and has since caused new up risings across many states. Over years, with change in leadership, Maoist ban has sparked numerous insurgencies and became resistance. Governments have employed different policies/strategies including paramilitary forces, which the rebels respond back with similar violence (use of guns and explosives) on civilians and the officers. What is the relationship between Economic Development and Conflict in South Asia? Low per capital growth and conflicts Economic growth and conflict developments happen alongside each other in some regions of South Asian. The notion that those which countries experience economic expansion realise reduced conflicts, does not coincide well with South Asian nations. Over the decade South Asia contributed to the greater economic growth of Asia, yet sub national conflicts remained quite violent in the states. About half of South Asia population is composed of the, especially from India. Though one of the fastest growing regions in the world, Haq states that “the richer region has experienced stupendous growth, but the limited growth potential of the poorer region has been further compounded by the weak capacity of the state to deliver social services” (159). In terms of low per capital income of people in different regions, areas highly affected by violence and conflicts are those lagging behind. Regions where citizens earn a high per capital income have not experienced such conflicts as those in lagging regions. Research shows that “conflicts have been concentrated in the lagging regions of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar (associated to Maoists insurgency) and Orissa in India, northern province of Sri Lanka, Balochistan of Pakistan, and almost whole of Pakistan” (Ghani and Iyer 2). Compared to other regions of each respective country, citizens in some of these regions lack appropriate infrastructures and facilities like in leading regions. Unequal distribution of resources and conflicts South Asian countries have experienced a problem of acquiring and sharing resources such as land for agriculture in India and water crisis in Sri Lanka which concern their economic matters. Such resources have acted as cause of tension between communities and the involved violent groups, which call for disagreements and violence as individual people and groups air their grievances and defend their rights. Unequal resource access in India has been the cause of exacerbated poverty and unequal economic performances in households and regions of the country; hence some people are made vulnerable poverty by policies that serve to benefit others. Anger followed by the use of unorthodox means to defend the poor yield conflicts and violence. Conflicts exert economic costs Conflicts have also interfered with economic progress of conflict zone regions of South Asia. With repetitive violence, governments or investors would not risk investing in certain areas because of the destruction of property. Hence, some regions will remain lagging behind other towns/parts because of the insecurity issue involved during violence. As security deteriorates in some parts and violence conflicts increase, economic development either stops or performances decline. Countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan and Thailand have recorded numerous cases of explosions on property and civil wars that lead to destruction of property and lives. This incurs looses of millions of dollars to owners and governments whom have to gain halt their business, attend to the casualties or even rebuild their businesses. Conflicts that occur in times of regional/global financial crisis drive the regions/country into an economic recession that could affect employment into affected regions/industries/businesses and enhance poverty among residents. Conflicts effects on trade for economic development Conflicts that result in violence are key causes of restricted movement across a region. Trade is depended on movement of people, goods and ability to deliver services across distant destinations. Since trade is an interdependence activity in the region for economic cooperation, violent conflicts have often forced people to move out in masses to settle in other non violent areas. Effectively, trade and economic progress of their original locations are slowed down to cause a lagging area of development. Road networks and development of social infrastructure and amenities remain poor due to lack of peace and stability that would promote coordination of general economic development. What Policy Recommendation do you make to reduce conflict and Promote Economic Development in South Asia? Through negotiations and Peace treaties Considering the threat the government stability and civilians face, and the struggle of the group, a government can make best use of negotiation and reconciliation talks with the group to stop certain kinds of violence. Such issues of violence over resources could be handled through utmost negotiation to end a dispute. For example, Maoists rebel group of India has remained after several decades of insurgency, yet even stronger and spreading across states than ever. This is an agitated group over government’s failure to identify with their plea more than 30 years down the line. Unless the Indian government and Maoists rebel representatives willingly agree to negotiate and meet the part/whole of the demands of each groups as agreed, it would be difficult for economic and human developments among Maoists and regions they operate in. Peace agreements guide the two parties involved in their decision making, work to uphold their end of the deal and actively manage to reduce conflicts and violent behaviour. Equal distribution of resources The framework that some governments employ in setting their policies and planning for budgeting purposes are the source problem for inequality. Governments should adjust their methods for policies development to prevent funding certain states excessively than others or channelling majority of the resources at the expense of others. Those groups who feel marginalized can have opportunity for their region’s economic development. It would prevent generation of conflicts with the government and ensure peace and cooperation are maintained. When governments reach out to the marginalized groups, through resource allocation and welfare programs, the people feel part of the mainstream government and care, which would assist them to resist insurgency/rebellious groups among them. Rather than accepting support from alternative politically violent groups, they aid the mainstream government in countering such violence to establish peace vital for economic progress. Police and military interventions Upon greater escalation of violence a country’s military force can be used to contain it. Terrorism violence which in most cases has had international effects from South Asia could also be resolved through terrorist crack down by the international alliance armies to liberate the affected people and regions. You have witnessed the U.S and other western soldiers in Afghanistan and recently in Syria as part of their foreign policy to fight terrorism activities. Smaller and non violent groups can handled by the police departments without necessarily inflicting much harm, as part of restoring law and order in the society for social and economic progress. Works Cited Fagerlund, E. “The Tiger’s Roar: Insurgent Violence against Civilians in Sri Lanka.” Psychology & Society, 4 (1), 2011, 96-116. Ghani, E., and Iyer, L. “Conflict and Development: lessons from South Asia.” 31 September 2011. Web. 9 November 2014. worldbank.org. Haq, R. “Book Review: The Poor Half Billion in South Asia: What is Holding Back Lagging Regions.” pide.org.pk. n.d Web. 9 November 2014. Rajan, D.G., Sen, R., and Teitelbaum, E. “Low profile Resources and Insurgent Violence: Evidence from India.” brown.edu. n.d. Web. 8 November 2014. “The Tamil Tiger’s: A Timeline,” wsj.com. n.d. Web. 8 November 2014. Read More